Does this mean they were perfect? Absolutely not!
For example, the Bible tells us that Job was perfect and upright man.
Does that mean Job was perfect and sinless?
No, the only perfect sinless man to walk on this earth was the Lord Jesus.
Let me explain how the word PERFECT IS USED IN THE SCRIPTURES.
Illus: When a baby is born in this life they selfishly cry for attention. That is alright, in that stage in their life they are supposed to do things like this. THEY ARE PERFECT IN THIS STAGE IN LIFE. But that same baby when it grows up should not be acting like a baby
There can be no such thing as a "perfect" church as long as the membership is made up of mortals.
Job was PERFECT in that stage of his spiritual life.
The church of Philadelphia was not perfect in one sense of the word, but in another sense, spiritually, the church was perfect for the spiritual level it was on, and God did not find anything to condemn them for. They were exactly where they were supposed to be spiritually.
There are FOUR interesting facts that need to be considered before we can appreciate some of the things in this letter to the church of Philadelphia.
Such as...
(1)WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE NAME OF THIS CHURCH.
The word "Philadelphia" means: "Brotherly love, or one who loves his brother."
The name is a constant reminder that they were to love each other.
(2) WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE LOCATION OF THIS CHURCH.
It was located over a large "fault."
Illus: In 17 A.D. a large earthquake hit this area, and it was so devastating that it completely destroyed the city of Sardis, and ten other cities.
The church of Sardis nearby was destroyed.
Philadelphia was not totally destroyed, but for years the city had constant tremors, which caused walls to continue to tumble in on people.
The citizens had to live in terror of having to run out of their houses throughout the days and nights.
In fact, the majority of the population left the city because of the unending tremors.
Because of the earthquakes and tremors, the people were able to relate to two things the Lord spoke of in verse 12.
A. He spoke of those who were OVERCOMERS SPIRITUALLY as becoming PILLARS "...in the temple of my God..."
Illus: Because of the constant threat of buildings falling in, the people would build pillars in their homes to help support the structure of their homes.
Generally, the people with large pillars in their homes were safe in their homes during the tremors.
God was saying that overcomers were strong and could stand the spiritual "tremors" Satan would send, and because of that, one day they would be safe as a "...pillar in the temple of my God..."
The Christians could relate to the term "pillar" that God used.
B.Those who would be OVERCOMERS, He said in verse 12, “...he shall go no more out..."
They could certainly relate to this as they had to run in and out of their houses, as the unending tremors terrorized their lives.
But, one day they will not have to live under such conditions.
Sometimes, the best way for Christians to fight discouragement, is to recognize that one day we are NOT going to have to face the battles we now face.
Illus: As the song writer said it years ago, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus."
We have looked at:
• Their Name
• Their Location
But we need to consider…
(3) THE NEW NAME GIVEN TO THIS TOWN.
After one large earthquake, Philadelphia was totally destroyed. The emperor, Tiberius gave aid for the rebuilding of Philadelphia.
Out of gratitude, the name of the city was changed to Neocaesarea, the new city of Caesar.
In verse 12, we see they could relate to these words, "...I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
After seeing Philadelphia rebuilt and given a new name, they could relate to the new name "...of the city of my God..." that they (and all who have accepted Christ) would inherit through Christ, Who has made it possible.
(4) WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PHILADELPHIA.
The Jews claimed to be the true followers of God, and they claimed they had the keys of David which were given to them, and they had the right to open and shut the door to God and His kingdom.
God certainly must have had this in mind in verse 7 where we find that we, the people of God, are to look to Christ, Who has the "keys" and who opens and shuts the doors.
It is hard to fully understand this letter to the church of Philadelphia without first considering these FOUR things.
Keep them in mind as we go through these verses.
Let's first see...
I. HE IS THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS.
Verse 7 describes the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice the description certainly is not the kind of description we would give of someone.
Illus: For example, if I asked you to describe the late John Wayne, you would probably say he was a tall, handsome fellow, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a deep voice, and that he spoke with authority.
If anyone described Christ as being five foot eleven inches tall, having dark hair and blue eyes, they would be describing Him like an ordinary man.
Christ was like an ordinary man, but He was also MUCH MORE!
These are the kinds of adjectives we use in describing someone we know, but when it comes to describing the Lord Jesus in all His greatness, other descriptive terminology must be used.
The Bible describes Him as THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS.
You see, in everyday life we are constantly being confronted with doors that are OPEN, or doors that are SHUT.
The Lord wants us to know that He is THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS.
Illus: We know of people who have accomplished a great many things in their lifetime, but who could not have accomplished what they have, had God not opened the doors for them.
They may never thank God for it, but they have what they have because THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS helped them.
The good news in our text is that Jesus is the KEEPER OF THE KEYS, and even though we do not relish the idea of having a door slammed in our faces, we can all be thankful that He knows what doors should be opened, and what doors should be closed.
Jesus has the key to every circumstance in our lives, and we do not have to know the KEY MEN when we know the KEEPER OF THE KEYS - THE LORD JESUS CHIRST.
Notice TWO things about Him as the keeper of the keys.
A. The righteousness of the king.
In verse 7 we read, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true..."
Is it important that it is established that Jesus, the "Keeper of the Keys?”
It most certainly is.
You see, as we go down the path of life and the Lord opens and shuts doors before us, we can rest assured that He will NEVER open a door to something that is UNHOLY or FALSE.
Illus: A man got mad at his pastor one day. The man had lost his job and the finances were about gone. He came to Sunday school all excited and said, “Pastor, God gave me a job!" The pastor was glad to hear the good news, then he asked what kind of job the man had. The man told him he was driving a beer truck. As lovingly as he knew how, the pastor said, “Brother, I do not believe God gave you that job." The man said, “Why do you say that?" The pastor replied, “Because, God is THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS and He is HOLY and TRUE and He does not open doors that lead to unholy things."
So, the man, instead of seeking God for another job, got mad at the pastor.
God wanted His people to know He was the KEEPER OF THE KEYS, and the doors He opened were doors of HOLINESS and TRUTH.
We have looked at the righteousness of the king.
Also, look at...
B. The resources of the king. (Verse 7)
In Isaiah 22:22 we read this precious verse of scripture, "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."
Illus: When Bill Clinton became president of the United States; people wanted to become friends of "Bill's" like people have with all presidents before him.
They became known as F.O.B.
Why would people like to do that?
Because, we all like to have someone who has great resources, who can help us.
Did you know that we Christians have someone who has the great resources?
Not only CAN He help us, He also WANTS to help us!
That is why Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, Phil. 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
God wanted that church that loved Him, to know that He was the KEEPER OF THE KEYS. And He could provide their needs even though they were living under some FEARFUL and STRESSFUL conditions.
Also notice, not only is He THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS...
II. HE IS THE KING OF KNOWLEDGE.
In Rev. 3:8-10 we read, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
God knows everything we do, and one day people are going to be surprised, but they will have to give account to God for things that they had long forgotten about, and that no one except themselves knew about.
They are going to see on judgment day, that it is impossible for anyone to sin and God not know about it.
We hear much preaching about this, and we need to hear it because there are many people who do not seem to know this.
We also need to hear the preaching about the fact that God also sees ALL THE GOOD WE DO.
Notice, the Lord commended the church of Philadelphia for FIVE THINGS.
A. "I know thy works" (v. 8).
We are not saved BY our WORKS, but we are saved FOR WORKS!
In Eph. 2:10, we read, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"
Someone said, “Faith alone saves, but faith that saves is not alone."
Something is wrong when a person professes to have faith but does not have any works.
The church of Philadelphia was a working church.
Look at something else about this church that the Lord knew, he said...
B. "...behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..."
We do not know what kind of door it was that God opened for them, but it is for certain, He set before them some kind of open door!
Illus: Paul talked about an open door for him……..
God opens different kinds of doors for different kinds of churches.
Some are foolish enough to believe that all churches are alike, and that what works for one church ought to work for another church, but this is not so!
Illus: The late Dr. Jack Hyles each year would have a preacher’s conference for pastors. Nearly 5,000 pastors would attend his conference to see how he had such a successful ministry.
After the conference these pastors would leave and implement the things they learn in their churches.
But what works for one church may not work in another church.
Illus: We have all seen churches that struggle to keep their doors open, and others buy a piece of property and put up a building, and it is hard to get all the people in the door.
• What is the difference?
• There is a big difference.
God is the One who opens and shuts doors. If God shuts a door, regardless of how hard we try, we cannot open it.
We find this especially true in missions.
Some of God's finest servants have struggled on mission fields with very little visible results whereas servants in America, who might not have been as dedicated, might have brought forth much fruit for harvest.
Perhaps it was the door of evangelism that was opened to the church of Philadelphia, of which God spoke when He said, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..."
Also, notice something else the Lord commended this church for.
C. “For thou hast a little strength”.
The word translated "strength," is from the Greek word, "Dunamin" from which we get our word dynamite.
God said that they had a little power.
It is believed that the church of Philadelphia was not large in numbers, nor did they have an impressive building, or all kinds of programs.
It is believed that they were a little group of humble folks, who loved the Lord and served Him with what doors God opened for them.
The one thing that is important in every church is this, THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS BEING PREACHED AND TAUGHT IN EVERY CHURCH!
When the Word of God is being preached you will see THREE things:
1) -It will drive the hypocrites out of the church.
2) -It will feed the spiritually hungry and keep them humble.
3) -It will show the lost how they can be saved.
God saw this church, not as a large, powerful church, but as a small, humble, powerful church.
We could make a judgment about this church and see it one way, but God may see it another way.
God said the church of Philadelphia had a little STRENGTH.
Also notice...
D. "...and hast kept my word..."
Not only was the POWERFUL WORD OF GOD PREACHED, It also was KEPT!
In order for a church to be what God would have it be, it has to have two things:
1. A minister who will PREACH THE WORD.
2. A congregation that will PRACTICE THE WORD.
When either of these ingredients is missing in a church, that church is in trouble.
Also, notice something else God saw in this church.
He said...
E. "...and hast not denied my name."
The church of Philadelphia was not serving the Lord because it was the popular thing to do. The members knew, to be children of God, they had to trust in the only name that we can be saved by, and that is the name of Jesus.
To proclaim you believed in the deity of Christ at that time meant putting yourself at risk of being killed.
The Jews that still held to the teaching of the law for salvation said they were God's people.
To trust the LAW for salvation did not bring any repercussions, but when you told people that you trusted in the name of Christ, God's Son, for salvation, you became an object of ridicule.
But, those who trusted in the name of Christ were the children of God!
Look at verse 9 to see how Christ felt about those who ridiculed His people, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
Jesus said He would make those Jews to come and worship at their feet that they might know that He loved the Christians.
Why?
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Conclusion:
I. HE IS THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS.
II. HE IS THE KING OF KNOWLEDGE.
